Minister to focus on Lancashire homes

Health minister Jacqui Smith has told MPs that
the Social Services Inspectorate is taking a “very close interest”
in developments in Lancashire, where the council proposes slashing
its numbers of homes from 48 to 13.

The
council is currently assessing its care provision and is due to
consult the NHS, local people and the third sector on its future
plans.

The
government expects local authorities to work with the private,
independent and voluntary sectors as well as with their partners in
the NHS to develop the necessary services for older people, she
said.

Smith
added that Lancashire has already used extra investment by the
government, including the £5m from the building capacity grant
to improve services.

“It is
right that we build incentives into the system to ensure that our
health and social services work together better, so that older
people are not stuck in hospital when they would be better off in
care homes, in their own homes or being supported in some other way
in the community,” she said.